MATCH BACKGROUND
Arsenal go in to tomorrow’s under-18s clash with MK Dons looking to secure three more points in their quest for a play-off place. They cruised past Cardiff with a 6-0 victory last weekend, but their biggest rivals in terms of league positions West Ham won as well, so Bould’s side need a win.
THE TABLE
| P | Team |
P | W | D | L | For | Agt | GD | Pts |
| 1 | West Ham United U18 | 25 | 14 | 3 | 8 | 54 | 36 | +18 | 45 |
| 2 | Arsenal U18 | 23 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 60 | 30 | +30 | 43 |
| 3 | Fulham U18 | 24 | 12 | 6 | 6 | 33 | 24 | +9 | 42 |
| 4 | Southampton U18 | 25 | 12 | 4 | 9 | 39 | 46 | -7 | 40 |
| 5 | Portsmouth U18 | 23 | 11 | 4 | 8 | 32 | 34 | -2 | 37 |
| 6 | Crystal Palace U18 | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 48 | 38 | +10 | 34 |
| 7 | Chelsea U18 | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 44 | 38 | +6 | 34 |
| 8 | Ipswich Town U18 | 25 | 9 | 5 | 11 | 33 | 37 | -4 | 32 |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic U18 | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 39 | 46 | -7 | 27 |
| 10 | Norwich City U18 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 21 |
| 11 | Millwall U18 | 24 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 27 | 55 | -28 | 14 |
Arsenal are two points behind West Ham with two games in hand. Victory over MK Dons would move them within touching distance of a play-off place, but the Hammers are also in action tomorrow when they travel to face Leicester City.
| Results 29.03.08 | Fixtures 05.04.08 |
| Arsenal 6 Cardiff City 0 | Aston Villa v Millwall |
| Aston Villa 7 Ipswich Town 2 | Cardiff City v Charlton Athletic |
| Birmingham City 2 Norwich City 2 | Fulham v Watford |
| Charlton Athletic 2 Coventry City 1 | Leicester City v West Ham United |
| Crystal Palace 2 MK Dons 0 | MK Dons v Arsenal (11.00am) |
| Millwall 1 Bristol City 0 | Norwich City v Coventry City |
| Portsmouth 3 Tottenham Hotspur 2 | Portsmouth v Bristol City |
| Watford 4 Southampton 0 | Reading v Chelsea |
| West Ham United 4 Reading 0 | Southampton v Birmingham City |
| Tottenham Hotspur v Crystal Palace |
THE TEAM
Ahmed Abdulla is on trial with title contenders West Ham
Gilles Sunu, Jack Wilshere and Kyle Bartley all return from international duty, whilst Craig Eastmond could start after being rested against Cardiff. Henri Lansbury (glandular fever) is close to a return but may not be risked whilst Luke Ayling picked up a foot injury against Cardiff but should be fit. Ahmed Abdulla is on trial with West Ham.
Predicted team:
—————————–Szczesny——————————–
—Blackwood——Bartley—————Thomas (c)——Evina
——————–Frimpong————-Watt——
—–Sunu——————Wilshere———Freeman——-
—————————-Murphy—————————
subs: Shea, Cruise, Rasmussen, Eastmond, Fonte.
Following tomorrow’s game with MK Dons, the young Gunners return to action against Millwall on Tuesday before rounding their league campaign off with fixtures against Bristol City and Fulham.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Saturday April 14, 2007
MK Dons 0 Arsenal 4 (Murphy (2), Merida, Barazite)
Arsenal: Szczesny; Ogogo, Hoyte, Rodgers, Steer; Merida (van den Berg, 70) , Randall (Simpson, 65), Dunne, Gibbs (Barazite, 60); Murphy, Fonte.
